Swamp Talk: A New Perspective on Post-Grad Jobs

I’ve consistently alternated between freaking out about getting a job and being excited about post-grad life and job perspectives since my first night in Broward Hall more than three years ago.

Sometimes, my bouts of angst last an hour; other times, three weeks. Occasionally, I can go a few months without a major panic attack.

As a journalism and English double major, I knew I would never be rich, and I’ve always been totally OK with that. But I do need a job that can pay my bills after graduation, unless I plan on moving back home, which I definitely don’t. My parents, unfortunately, can’t foot the bill for my rent after I graduate or really anything of mine after I graduate.

So, as you can see, having a job after I graduate in May is crucial.

When I’m at a low, freaking about getting a job, I envision myself at home next year, sitting on the couch in my pajamas every afternoon until 4 p.m. when I finally drag my slovenly self to my room and begrudgingly put clothes on.

It’s not a pretty image.

But I’ve realized that not only is that vision stupid and negative, it’s also completely wrong because while I probably won’t get my dream job, I will get a job that utilizes my many skills.

Why?

Because I have many skills. Not just one particular skill set. All of my talents don’t just lie in one thing, even though my degrees and professional experiences are specialized.

And that’s something, as college students, we too often forget.

If you had to list off skills that I as an English and journalism major have, you would probably say things like writing, editing, reading critically, grammar, AP style and maybe a few others.

But that just hits the tip of the ice berg. (Cockiness not intended.)

We all have so many more skills than our degrees and resumes say we do because we think inside of the box.

Of course, we all have a dream job or dream kind of job, but just because you can’t get that doesn’t mean you should settle for going back to your high school job as a waitress at a mom and pop restaurant.

You can still land an amazing job that utilizes your bachelor’s and skills by pivoting, meaning switching gears and playing off one skill you have.

For example, just because your degree is in political science doesn’t mean you don’t know a ton about economics. You can and should be searching for jobs in economics, if that’s an interest you have; they don’t have to be directly related to political science at all.

I feel like so many of us let our degrees limit us, when we should be using them to expand our job prospects.

Just because you don’t have the traditional background and skills for a certain job doesn’t mean you won’t get the job; your different skill set may be exactly what the employer is looking for.